Diving board



Dec. 17, 1968 5. c. FOX

DIVING BOARD Filed Nov. 25, 1966 2% *0 E Q 4 1\4 B 5 e m 4 8 a.. 34 F F 2 0 2L 6. I 1 4 .l. o r 4 w k w u FIG. I

INVENTOR GEORGE C. FOX

ATTORNEY F IG. 4

United States Patent 3,416,793 DIVING BOARD George C. Fox, RD. 3, Box 438, Dover, Pa.

Filed Nov. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 596,669 Claims. (Cl. 272--66) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The feature of forming diving boards from a plurality of elongated members connected together in side-by-side relationship has been developed previously. In such composite diving boards developed heretofore, however, the means employed to connect the sections together have been of the 'type which continuously extend through all of the sections and require tools, such as wrenches, to operate. The principal drawback in such prior diving boards of this type, however, resides in the fact that the connecting means are not highly effective for purposes of preventing at least limited relative movement between adjoining sections of such composite diving boards due at least in part to strains imposed upon the board during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a composite type of diving board formed preferably from extruded metal sections which are hollow, said sections being provided with interfitting connecting means extending longitudinally of the sections preferably throughout the length thereof and being interengageable with connecting means of adjacent sections preferably by a snap-action which interlocks the sections without the use of tools and minimizes the possibility of relative movement between said sections during normal use of such board.

Another object of the invention is to provide side sections which comprise finished sides for the composite board and an intermediate type of section which may be interconnected to the side-forming sections and as many other intermediate sections as are desired for purposes of forming a composite diving board of desired width.

A further object of the invention is to provide transversely extending, simple cover strips for opposite ends of the board to close the hollow interior of the sections and also enhance the esthetic appearance of the board, such cover strips for the ends being secured preferably by self-tapping screws engageable with socket means formed in the various sections incident to extruding the sections.

Description of the drawings In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a foreshortened diving board embodying the principles of the present invention and showing the board mounted upon an exemplary support which is fragmentarily illustrated and partly broken away to show details thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of an exemplary 3,416,793 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 arrangement of connected sections forming a composite diving board of the type shown in FIG. 1, the end cover strips being removed from the ends of the connected sections to illustrate the means for connecting the cover strips thereto, as well as the connecting means for the adjacent sections.

FIG. 3 is a fregmentary end view of a series of connected sections forming the composite diving board otherwise illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, certain of the sections being broken away to foreshorten the view.

FIG. 4 is another fragmentary end view similar to FIG. 3, but shown on a larger scale and illustrating the method of coengaging the connecting means of the sections in accordance with the particular characteristics of the connecting means comprising a principal feature of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the diving board shown in the preceding figures and illustrating an exemplary width thereof on a smaller scale than in the preceding figures.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a portion of one end of the diving board as seen on the line 66 of FIG. 5 and showing on a larger scale than in said figure details of the means for connecting one of the end cover strips to one end of the diving board.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of an exemplary end cover strip of the type illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 in particular.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of an exemplary diving board of the type shown in the preceding figures and embodying the present invention, said figure especially illustrating part of the securing means by which one end of the diving board is connected to supporting means for the board.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, the diving board 10 is composite and formed from a plurality of interconnected sections. By reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that three different types of sections are utilized. All of them are preferably hollow, elongated shell-like members which may be formed by an extrusion process, from suitable material, of which aluminum is highly adapted to the purpose. It is conceivable, however, that other suitable types of material may be employed which preferably lend themselves to being extruded to form the hollow sections or members referred to.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these sections preferably comprise two different outermost or side sections 12 and 14, and one or more similar intermediate sections 16. In cross-section, as clearly shown in said figures, the outermost side sections 12 and 14 are substantially C- shaped in cross-section, while the intermediate sections 16 are substantially rectangular in cross-section.

As best shown in FIG. 4, it will be seen that the completely illustrated intermediate section 16 which is shown in cross-section in said figure comprises preferably a pair of internal continuous, elongated webs 13 formed integrally with the top and bottom walls incident to the sections being extruded in the initial process of manufacturing the same. Further, one of said elongated webs is provided with a longitudinally coexistensive socket-like means 20 which also are formed by the initial extruding process employed to manufacture the intermediate section 16. Especially as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that said socket-like means 20 are C- shaped in cross-section for purposes of permitting limited expansion of the walls forming said means. The inherent resilience of the material from which all parts of the section 16 are formed permits such limited expansion of the side walls of the socket-like means 20 without rupturing the material in any way incident to said means receiving, for example, self-tapping screws or frictionally engaging tapered drive-pins or the like for purposes of connecting facing strips or end plates thereto, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

One of the principal features of the present invention comprises the connecting means by which the desired number of intermediate sections 16 are quickly connected together without the use of tools and, subsequently, the outermost side sections 12 and 14 are connected to such assembly of intermediate sections 16. Referring especially to FIG. 4, but also as shown in FIG. 3, such connecting means comprise complementary, interengageable members 22 and 24 adjacent one edge or corner of the interconnectable sections, and a second type of complementary interconnectable members 26 and 28 respectively form adjacent opposite edges or corners from the first-mentioned ones on such interconnectable sections. All of such complementary, interconnectable members referred to are coextensive in length with the sections to which they are integrally connected and upon which they initially are formed by the same extruding process employed to manufacture the sections. In the preferred construction of these connecting means, no additional finishing operations are required; the extruding process is adequate to form such connecting means without any appreciable additional finishing operation to achieve the desired final shape of such members.

The preferred method of connecting two adjacent sec tions together by employing such several sets of complementary interconnectable members is illustrated somewhat in diagrammatic manner in the left-hand side of FIG. 4. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that the elongated member 24 is channel-like and receives the rib-like member 22 in such manner that limited pivotal movement is permitted between the two due to very close tolerance in the dimensions. Upon interengaging the members 22 and 24 so that they assume the relative position shown in exemplary manner adjacent the lefthand end of FIG. 4, further pivotal movement of the side section 12, in counterclockwise direction with respect to the intermediate section 16, results in the elongated rib-like member 26 cammingly engaging the hook like extremity 30 on the terminal edge of member 28 and effecting a snap-connection therewith by the rib member 26 being received within the channel 32 of member 28.

It will be understood that the hook-like extremity 30 and the channel 32 are both coextensive in length with the member 28 which, in turn, is coextensive in length with the section 16. The resilience of the material from which the section 16 and, likewise, the elongated connectable member 28 thereof are formed is adequate to permit limited deflection sufiicient to permit the camming action between elongated member 26 and elongated extremity 30 to permit the same to move past each other. Due to such yieldability, the same permits the reception of member 26 within the channel 32 as soon as the trailing extremity of rib-like member 26 clears the inner end of the hook-like extremity 30. When such clearance is reached, said hook-like extremity immediately snaps back from its momentarily deflected position to its original condition and effects tight interlocking relationship with the member 26.

The relative dimensions and spacings of the various interengaging portions of the complementary interconnectable members 22, 24, 26 and 28, as well as the hook-like extremities 30 and channels 32 are such that when interconnection is fully achieved between two adjacent sections or members forming the composite diving board, there is sufficient tension exerted between the interengaging members of the connecting means to provide fully adequate friction to prevent any appreciable relative lengthwise movement between adjacent sections, as well as preventing any accidental disconnection of the members of said connecting means, particularly when the diving board is in use and is being flexed incident to such use, for example.

Under preferred conditions of manufacturing the cornposite diving board embodying the present invention, the stock material comprising the side sections 12 and 14 and intermediate section 16 may be obtained in appropriate lengths longer than the desired length for a given board, for example, such stock sections may be cut to suitable length, or desired lengths of the material may be cut at the mill to provide specified lengths of said sections and the same may be stocked until orders are received. A board of desired length and width is quickly fabricated from the desired length of the outermost side sections 12 and 14 and the required number of intermediate sections 16 of the same length. All ofsaid sections being of identical length, when the connection of the sections is completed, it then is only necessary to attach transversely extending end strips or members 34.

End strips 34 preferably are formed from extruded strip material, one preferred cross-sectional shape of which is shown in FIG. 7. Said shape is extremely simple yet highly suitable for the desired purpose. It will be seen that it has a fiat surface 36, which is placed directly against and abuts the transversely cut ends of the sections of the diving board 10, and an exterior arcuate surface 38. The strip material from which the end members 34 are formed preferably is stocked in substantial lengths. Upon a board being fabricated, and the particular width thereof then being known, a piece of such strip stock of the required length is cut and a plurality of countersunk holes 40 are drilled therein in spaced alignment corresponding to that of the socket-like means 20 of all of the interconnected sections 12, 14 and 16.

Bevel headed, self-tapping metal screws 42 then are inserted through the holes 40 and the heads thereof are received within the countersunk outer ends of the holes in the manner illustrated, for example, in cross-section in FIG. 6. The self-tapping screws are threaded into the outer ends of the socket-like means 20 of the various sections to complete the attachment of the end members 34 to the opposite ends of the composite board 10 to complete the entire assembly thereof. Headed tapered pins also may be used.

To facilitate the drilling of the holes 40, the end members 34 preferably are provided on the curved surface thereof with a longitudinally extending groove 44 which is V-shaped in cross-section as shown in FIG. 7 and is located preferably midway between the opposite edges of the end members 34. Such a groove facilitates use of a center punch to facilitate the placement of a drill at the exactly desired location to drill the holes 40 in precise alignment with the socket-like members 20 of the sections. Preferably, the end members 34 are formed from material similar to that from which the sections 12, 14 and 16 are formed, said material preferably being of a non-corroding type. The ends of the strips forming end members 34 are ground to the curved configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 either before or after attachment to the connected sections.

After the various sections of the composite diving board have been connected together and either before or after the end members 34 are afiixed thereto, it is contemplated by the present invention to utilize a plurality of friction-type strips 46 which, for example, may have a pressure-sensitive type of cement affixed to one surface thereof, and the opposite surface is formed of appropriate material or is covered with a suitable coating to provide a reasonable amount of friction to prevent slippage by divers when the board is in use. The strips 46 are applied to the same surface of the board and said surface becomes the upper surface thereof in use. The strips 46 preferably extend longitudinally between the opposite ends of the board and the Width of said strips,

under certain circumstances, may cover the meeting line of adjacent sections of the board, depending upon how many intermediate sections are employed to form the board.

The board may be very simply, yet highly effectively, connected to supporting means by the use of very simple mechanism. Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that exemplary pipe-like supporting members 48 and 50 are appropriately anchored at the lower ends in deck means or coping 52 which usually comprise part of one end or side of a pool, for example. The supporting members 48 and 50 preferably are U-shaped in accordance with conventional practice, the bight 54 of said U-shaped supporting members 48 and 50 extending horizontally. Upon placing one end of the board 10 upon said pipe members 54, preferably intermediately between the ends thereof, holes are then drilled at suitable locations, such as shown in exemplary manner in FIGS. 1 and 8, through the board 10 and the bight members 54 for purposes of inserting locking bolts 56, of suitable length, therethrough. Preferably, finishing and strengthening strips 58 are disposed transversely across the board 10, respectively against the upper and lower surfaces of the board and the holes which receive the bolts 56 likewise are drilled through the strips 58, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The bolts 56 also are preferably of the round headed type and are suitably coated or plated or otherwise are formed of appropriate material to render the same noncorrosive in use. Nickel or cadium plated bolts, for example, are highly suitable for such purpose.

As an additional feature associated with the bolts 56, particularly as will be seen from FIG. 8, the holes WhlCh receive the bolts 56 preferably are drilled through the interfitting members 22 and 24 adjacent the upper surface of the board, for example, as viewed in FIG. 4, and also between the interfitting members 26 and 28 ad acent the lower surface of the board as viewed in the same figure, whereby said bolts effectively interlock such interconnected sections of the board against relative longitudinal movement with respect to each other and thereby augment the inherent friction normally existing between the interfitting members 22, 24, 26 and 28 referred to above to prevent such relative longitudinal movement.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a composite diving board preferably made from non-corrosive metal and consists of a plurality of extruded, hollow sections so designed as to permit adequate flexibility for the outer end of a board when the opposite end is anchored to sultable supporting means, appropriate strengthening webs being formed 1n the extruded sections to prevent distortion or collapsing of the same in use. Said sections are quickly interconnected to form composite boards of various widths within an extensive range of usable widths, said sectlons being quickly and permanently connectedtogether by snapacting connecting means attachable wlthout the use of tools. Appropriate end members also are qulckly fitted and connected to the opposite ends of the assembled sections by the use of self-tapping screws or tapered drivepins, for example. After the end members have been cut to suitable length to fit a desired width of board, the ends thereof quickly may be ground by a portable abrasive wheel, or the like, to conform the ends of said strips to the preferably curved contour of the outermost side sections of the board. Following this, appropriate antifriction strips are quickly attached to the upper surface of the board and upon the drilling of a limited number of holes, one end of the board readily is connected to suitable supporting means.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its several preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A diving board comprising in combination, a plurality of extruded elongated sections generally rectangular in cross-section, a pair of said sections comprising outermost side sections and the other sections all being intermediate sections similar to each other, all of said sections being hollow and having opposite parallel top and bottom walls forming the upper and lower surfaces of a composite diving board when said sections are connected together, said intermediate sections each having a plurality of spaced substantially parallel webs coextensive in length with and integrally connected to said top and bottom walls and spaced inwardly from the outer edges thereof and supporting said walls in parallel spaced relationship, selfengaging complementary connecting means extending along the opposite edges of said intermediate sections and one edge of said outermost side sections to connect all of said sections in side-by-side abutting relationship, end members having a length equal to the width of all the connected sections, means on the ends of at least certain of said sections operable to receive attaching means to connect said end members transversely across the ends of said connected sections to form a diving board, and means carried by said diving board adjacent one end thereof operable to connect the same to support means when installed adjacent a pool.

2. The diving board according to claim 1 in which said connecting means are formed integrally with the outer edges of said top and bottom walls of said sections and said Webs of said intermediate sections bracing the same to retain the complementary means thereof in engagement with each other.

3. The diving board according to claim 2 in which said complementary means comprise co-engaging ribs and channels adapted to be interlocked by snap-action and being substantially coextensive in length with said sections.

4. The diving board according to claim 3 in which said sections are extruded from rust-proof metal having sufficient resilience to maintain said co-engaged ribs and channels in locked co-engaged relationship when said sections are assembled.

5. The diving board according to claim 1 in which said outermost side members are smoothly rounded at the outer sides thereof, whereby the same are substantially C-shaped in cross-section.

6. The diving board according to claim 1 in which said end members are strip-like and said attaching means comprise headed members extending through holes in said end members and engaging socket means provided in the outer ends of at least certain of said sections.

7. The diving board according to claim 6 in which said socket means are carried by said Webs of said intermediate sections and the outermost walls of said side sections.

8. The diving board according to claim 7 in which said socket means are extruded tube-like means substantially coextensive in length with said sections and arranged to frictionally receive said headed attaching means.

9. The diving board according to claim 1 in which said means carried by said board adjacent one end to connect the same to support means comprise holes extending substantially perpendicularly through said board and intersecting said self-engaging connecting means, and bolts extending through said holes and operable simultaneously to engage portions of said connecting means on adjacent sections and thereby prevent relative longitudinal movement between said adjacent sections.

10. The diving board according to claim 9 in which said self-engaging connecting means comprising interfitting ribs and channels respectively formed on the outer edges of said top and bottom walls of said sections and extending longitudinally therealong between the opposite ends thereof, and said holes commonly intersecting adjacent portions of said ribs and channels, whereby when said bolts extend through said holes said bolts engage said intersected adjacent portions of said ribs and channels 7 8 and prevent relative longitudinal movement between the 3,203,149 8/1965 Soddy 52588 X same and the sections connected thereto. 3,284,976 11/ 1966 Kadish 52494 X 2,919,133 12/1959 Eggers 272-66 Ref renc s Cited 3,184,233 5/1965 Cook 272-66 UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. 2,747,871 5/1956 Brandt et al. 52731 X 2,831,688 4/1958 Knox 52618 X DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 3,093,219 6/1963 Rarnme 52-579 X 3,172,506 3/1965 Urquhart 52-624 X 3,182,763 5/1965 Glaser 52 579 10 52588, 624 

